This year 90 schools entered this now famous competition, which has become an integral part of the schools sporting calendar. Eight local tournaments strategically placed around Sussex took place to provide winners to participate in the County Final at the County Ground, Hove.
As usual the competition was played in great spirit and although we encourage new schools to take part and market the tournaments as an introductory game there is an edge to the competition in that the winning school progresses potentially through to the National Final, which takes place at Trent Bridge on 18th July.
This year was particularly successful in that we had new schools entering, and winning, as well as the old guard who have been back year on year. I can safely say I know many of the schools in East Sussex as well as many of the teachers. Of the eight tournaments held Preston Park remains the most popular with 18 schools taking part but this is closely followed by the picturesque Buxted Park with fourteen schools.
The tournaments were held over a two week period, which meant travelling to Rye one day followed by Eastbourne the next. A lot of travelling, which is so worth it to see quality cricket played by young aspiring cricketers, and who knows, we could be looking at the next Matt Prior or Michael Yardy (who remembers playing in this competition ten years ago!)
The winning teams then played at the County Ground, Hove on 4th July. The eight winners were drawn out the hat in the morning of the final to determine which group they would be in and the order of play for the day. Three exciting games were played in the group stages, lunch taken then the semi finals. In this case the rain, thunder and lightening interrupted proceedings and held up play for half an hour! It was then agreed to carry on playing at the semi final stage, where the most amazing games took place (including a tie, the winner being Southover who took one more wicket). The winners of both games were the teams who came second in their groups!
The final round then commenced with every team playing for their placing. Little Common came up against Southover and in a closely fought match dominated by the bowlers and some excellent fielding. Both teams fought well and Little Common had just a little more depth in their line up to win the game by __ runs. James Vaughan was man of the match for his tight bowling and for keeping the Southover big hitter quiet in what turned out to be the decisive over. James won a Gray Nicolls Powerbow for his efforts.
Once again massive thanks must go to
Davies and Tate whose continued support for this competition provides
us with these professional tournaments, their support allows us
to provide certificates for each participating child, professional
umpires and trophies and medals for the winners.
Thanks must also go to my band of merry men and women that most
people call umpires. Without this band of merry men the tournaments
would probably descend into chaos, so a huge thank you to them.
I would also like to thank the cricket clubs who allow us to use their facilities, to the teachers and schools and mostly to the children, whose talents are beyond belief - I have seen some thoroughly entertaining cricket this year - diving catches, slog sweeps for sixes on to rooftops and some fiery fast bowling and wily spinning that the professional players would be proud of!
Results and Final Tables
Group 1
St Mary Star of the Sea 9 pts
Little Common 7 pts
Herne Junior 5 pts
Wivelsfield 3 pts
Group 2
Tollgate 9 pts
Southover 7 pts
Southdown 5 pts
Stanford 3 pts
Semi Finals
Southover 237 runs beat St Mary Star of the Sea 237 by taking
more wickets
Little Common 260 runs beat Tollgate 201 by 59 runs
Stanford Junior 253 runs beat Herne Junior 246 by 7 runs
Southdown junior 300 runs beat Wivelsfield 236 by 64 runs
Final Placings
1st Little Common Hastings Winners
2nd Southover Firle Winners
3rd St Mary Star of the Sea Rye Winners
4th Tollgate Eastbourne Winners
5th Stanford Junior Brighton Winners
6th Southdown Junior Seaford Winners
7th Herne junior Buxted Park Winners
8th Wivelsfield School Hailsham Winners
STOP PRESS
Little Common reach the National Finals.
After their victory in the County Final Little Common represented East Sussex in the Asda Kwik cricket Regional competition against schools from Kent, Surrey and London.
After cruising through to the Finals they came up against a strong Bexley team from Kent. Tight accurate spin and pace bowling from Little Common kept Bexley down to just 209 runs (teams start on 200 and lose 5 runs for a wicket). Little Common then got off to a bad start reduced to 180 runs after 4 overs but some heroics saw them reach 201 of 7 overs needing 8 to win off the final over. Overthrows on the penultimate ball saw Little Common overtake the total but if they lost a wicket on the final ball victory would be Bexleys. A dot ball and victory was Little Common's and now they play at Trent Bridge on the 18th July.
>